Cigarette holder



y 1935- H. P. THAYER 2,001,827

CIGARETTE HOLDER Filed April 27, 1954 Patented May 21, 1935 UNITED STATES- PATENT OFFICE CIGARETTE HOLDER Howard P. Thayer, Evanston, Ill. Application April 27, 1934, Serial No. 722,688

' Claims.

My invention relates to a holder wherein cigarettes may be accommodated and eventually snufied. It may be used independently of any other article, or be associated with a box or comb 5 of matches in such a way as to be received substantially within the confines of such a container.

For its principal objects my invention aims to provide a holder which is economical to produce, which is small, light and easily accommodated within the pocket or elsewhere, which lends itself readily to association with a container for matches and the like or other desired articles, and which will securely hold a, lighted cigarette when placed therein and snuff the same if the burning be allowed to continue. Such an article is advantageous in that it provides a safe repository for lighted cigarettes which are occasionally laid down for a few moments and sometimes forgotten with disastrous consequences. In addition, the present holder may be used to accommodate ashes when no other suitable repository is conveniently at hand. These and other objects of my invention are attained by a holder for cigarettes or the like of which certain exemplifications are shown in the accompanying drawing wherein- Figure, l is a perspective view of a conventional match box of the open tube and tray type with which is associated one form of the present holder;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing the tray slid to expose the ends of contained matches and showing further the cigarette holder slid to operative position for receiving a lighted cigarette;

Fig. 3, is a perspective view of the cigarette holder per se;

Fig. 4 is a view of the blank from which the holder is formed;

Fig. 5 is a view in perspective of a modified form of the cigarette holder shown in association with a conventional match comb;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the comb opened up and the cigarette holder slid to operative position;

Fig. 7 is a detail in section on line 1 of Fig. 6; and

Fig. 8 is a view of the blank from which the holder of Figs. 5 to 7 is made.

In the present construction I have shown a holder which is made of a single piece of material, preferably sheet metal. It is also, in the forms shown, adapted for association with match containers of two different types, but, as will be readily apparent it may be used independently of any match container if this be desired.

Referring now to Figs. 1 to 4, I have illustrated a conventional match box comprising an openended tube A wherein is slidingly received a tray B containing a quantity of matches M. Fitted slidingly between the tray and tube is the cigarette holder C which comprises a base in from 5 which upstand a side wall II and a two-ply end wall l2. lihe holder may be produced from a blank as shown in Fig. 4 wherein I have indicated by dotted lines the folds which define in the section a the base It], in the section b the side wall I l andin the sections 0 and d the twoply end wall l2. As-sho/wn, the section it is extended at one end as at l5to join with an arm I 6 whose opposite free end is provided with a laterally extending finger ii. In the completed article, the outer ply of the end wall [2 is bent over the upper edge of the inner ply to provide an edge piece l3. The extension i5 is then downturned to support the arm l6 adjacent the base it). The finger ll is upturned, and in response to spring action of the arm I6 is normally pressed close to the end Wall l2.

A holder of this description is adapted to be fitted slidingly between the tube A and tray B of the match box' as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. When so positioned, the holder may be slid outwardly from the match box independently of any movement of the tray. As shown in Fig. 1, the holder may be pushed all the way in so as to be accommodated within the confines of the tube. When pulled out to exposed position, as shown in Fig. 2, the end wall and spring arm together are adapted to serve as a holder for a cigarette. To serve in this capacity the free end of the arm is swung outwardly permitting a cigarette to be rested upon the upper edge of the arm and by the upturned finger to be pressed against-the end wall where it remains clamped in position. The lighted end of the cigarette is normally removed from the upstanding finger, but with continued burning the ignited portion of the cigarette will eventually reach a point opposite the finger. At such time the pressure imparted by the finger will act as a snufler to extinguish the cigarette. Accordingly .if a lighted cigarette be left in the holder for an indefinite time, it will be automatically extinguished in course of time without dropping out of the holder and onto some surface where damage might result.

A holder which is quite similarto the one just described, but modified somewhat for association with a match container of different type, is illustrated in Figs. 5 to 8 inclusive. Here I have shown a conventional match comb having E with the back D of the match container.

a back D with one end folded over to provide a clamping flap E and its other end likewise folded over to form a cover F adapted to be held in place releasably beneath the flap. Within the container thus provided is a comb of matches M which may be secured in the usual manner as by a staple 20.

The cigarette holder formed for association with such a match comb may be made from a blank as suggested in Fig. 8. When set up, it provides a base plate 2| having an upturned flange 22 at one end, and at the opposite end a second flange 23 which continues upwardly to meet a second flange 24 which is downturned from a top plate 25 extended laterally from a side wall 26 that upstands from one edge of \the base plate. As shown, one comer of the base plate is cut out to clear the staple when inserted between the back D and the comb of matches M. When so inserted the top plate 25 fits under the flap E and the flanges 24 and 25 which provide an end wall are also accommodated to the inside of the fold which connects the flap- The several parts of the holder just described are designated by-corresponding reference characters on the blank shown in Fig. 8 wherein dotted lines indicate the lines of fold.

Connected to one end of the side wall 26 is a spring arm 30 having at its free end an upstanding finger 3| adapted normally, under spring tension, to lie adjacent the side wall. When sprung away from the wall a holder is provided for the reception of a cigarette in the manner already explained. The holder may be pushed in so as to liewithin the confines of the match container, as suggested in Fig. 5, or be pulled out to exposed position as shown in Fig. 6.

The extreme simplicity and effectiveness of the present holder are in its favor. It may be used without danger tosecure a lighted cigarette in place even when in physical association with a match container. In use, it firmly clamps a cigarette in place so that it may not accidentally slide out or roll away to do damage which may be considerable.

I claim:

1. In combination with a match box which comprises a sliding tray within an open-ended tube, a cigarette holder formed of sheet metal bent to provide three connected walls of which two are adapted to fit slidingly between the tray and tube whereby the third wall may be moved within the tube against the tray end or be pulled outwardly therefrom, a spring arm proximate to the third wall cooperating therewith to furnish a rest for a cigarette, and a finger extended laterally from the arm to lie transversely of the rested cigarette adapted to snufi the lighted end thereof when consumed to a point opposite said finger.

2. In combination with a match retainer, a cigarette holder formed of sheet metal bent to provide connected walls adapted to slidingly engage the retainer whereby to become connected therewith, the cigarette holder comprising a spring arm normally lying adjacent one of its walls and formed with a laterally extending finger, the arm and finger cooperating with the adjacent wall to furnish a rest and snuffer for a cigarette which is positioned therebetween.

3. A cigarette holder in which is comprised a base together with an upstanding wall and a spring arm having an upturned finger normally positioned adjacent the wall, the arm when sprung away from the wall afiording on its upper edge a rest for a cigarette which is pressed against the wall by the finger.

4. A one-piece cigarette holder of sheet material bent to provide a base together with an upstanding wall folded down along its upper edge to form a spring arm one end of which is freeto swing away from the wall against the tension of the arm, there being an upstanding finger at the free end of the arm affording with the upper edge of the arm a rest for a cigarette.

5. A cigarette holder of sheet material bent to provide a base together with an upstanding wall from one edge of which is extended a spring arm normally lying close to the wall, and means on the arm cooperating with the wall for clamping a cigarette in place therebetween.

HOWARD P. THAYER. Y 

